Rachel Richards is a percussionist/marimbist currently based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Rachel is driven by a passion and desire for global exploration and artistic innovation. She hopes to advance percussion repertoire through commissioned works and creative performances that showcase the expressive and virtuosic potential of percussion and the marimba. Rachel has performed both as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, Japan, and the United States.

Supported by the University of Michigan’s Center for World Performance Studies, Rachel conducted research in Japan during the summer of 2024, focusing on Japanese marimba repertoire and pedagogy. There she studied with Keiko Abe, a pioneering marimbist whose work has significantly shaped the instrument’s development. This project was deeply personal for Rachel, marking her first visit to Japan and a chance to explore her heritage. With a Japanese grandmother, Rachel developed a curiosity about Japanese culture and began studying the language in high school, fostering a lasting connection with her roots that continues to deepen through her research and performances of Japanese marimba music. This project is a continuation of that journey, interweaving her familial history with a deepening appreciation for Japanese music, culture, and performance.

In the future, Rachel plans to further her research by returning to Japan for additional studies, lessons, and interviews, aiming to make Japanese contributions to marimba more accessible to English-speaking musicians. This project seeks to deepen global appreciation for Japanese marimba music by exploring its cultural roots and sharing insights through performances, interviews, and research publications.

Other recent highlights of Rachel’s performance career include her work with the Lucerne Festival Academy Contemporary Orchestra, where she premiered Lisa Streich’s Reigen under the direction of Sir George Benjamin and Beat Furrer. She also joined the 2024 World Percussion Group European Tour, offering duo recital clinics at institutions such as the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen, as well as performing across Scandinavia and the UK, concluding the tour with a performance at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

Rachel is currently pursuing master’s degrees in percussion performance and chamber music at the University of Michigan under the guidance of professors Douglas Perkins and Ian Antonio. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Michael Burritt.

Updated November 2024